In the early stages of North Korea's ballistic missile program, the country largely absorbed Soviet missile technology. Typically, short-range missiles Hwasong-5, 6 and 9 use liquid fuel based on the design of Scud B and C missiles; KN-02 and medium-range missile Rodong-1 use solid fuel similar to the OTR-21 Tochka missile.
Most of the above missiles are directly derived from previous Soviet designs, except for the Hwasong-9 which is an improved version of the Scud with a longer range, higher accuracy and is very mechanical. movement during flight.
Once deployed, the Hwasong-9 placed US bases across Japan within range. North Korea's missiles were then exported to a number of partners such as Pakistan, Syria and Iran.
Hwasong-9 ballistic missile on mobile launcher.
Taepodong program 2
Throughout the 2000s, Western analysts almost unanimously reported that North Korea had a relatively basic technological level and was developing an intercontinental ballistic missile based on Scud technology. of the Soviet Union. The West then named this intercontinental ballistic missile Taepodong 2.
In the US, Central Intelligence Agency Director George Tenet testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee in the late 1990s that North Korea was on track to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile that could attack on US territory.
At that time, George Tenet commented that the North Korean defense industry had made advances in technology and that they were able to solve some important technical problems in developing missiles with a wide range of fire. large, including areas of the US, although the accuracy is not high.
Referring directly to Taepodong 2, he stated that the two-stage liquid fuel rocket can carry a larger payload to reach mainland Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands. Tenet further predicts that the missile may be developed into a three-stage derivative that could cover the rest of the United States.
George Tenet also said, “The United States is deeply concerned about the issue of North Korea having a secret nuclear weapons program and considers North Korea's secret underground facilities to be the main target for the United States to monitor.i ".
North Korean soldiers stand next to the Unha-3 satellite launch vehicle.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power years later directly mentioned Taepodong 2 when confronting North Korean diplomats. Power accused North Korea of developing ICBM technology. Japanese media also reported in August 8 that the Taepodong 2003 was not only a threat to Tokyo, but that the missile was also being shipped to Iran, where North Korea was preparing to transfer a production factory. to assist Iran in producing ICBMs under license.
Although North Korea has long flaunted its missile capabilities as a symbol of power, Pyongyang has never unveiled the Taepodong 2 or any other missile as described by the West. Military experts analyzing the Taepodong 2 program in fact show that there has never been such a missile, the accusations against North Korea are fictional and it was not until 2017 that North Korea launched an ICBM. first use.
Taepodong 2 is believed to be North Korea's Unha-2 and Unha-3 satellite launch vehicles, used to deploy weather observation satellites into space, with versions Kwangmyongsong-2, 3 and 4. The launch vehicles are said to use engines similar to those of the Rodong missile, but they cannot be used as combat vehicles.
The truth about Taepodong 2
Unha missiles carry modest payloads for their size and require days to assemble using extensive scaffolding structures, making them extremely vulnerable to enemy attack due to their slow deployment times.
Meanwhile, North Korea's ballistic missiles are often highly rated for their survivability and are deployed from mobile launchers, with missile launch time in just a few minutes. This capability includes all types of ballistic missiles from older generation tactical missiles such as the Hwasong-5, to newer, larger ICBMs such as the Hwasong-17.
Regarding the Unha launchers' inability to be used in combat, aerospace expert and North Korean missile program analyst John Schilling asserted: “Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) using the Unha design are not part of Pyongyang's plans.g".
First, we mistook the missile (from satellite images) for an ICBM and gave it the interesting name Taepodong-2. But Unha is clearly not optimized for military use; it's too big and bulky.
ICBM Hwasong-14 on transport launch pad.
However, accusations that North Korea is testing ICBMs, rather than pursuing a peaceful space program, are a valuable excuse for Western powers to push for more economic sanctions. to weaken this country.
Only in the late 2010s did the US Department of Defense report that the Taepodong-2 had never been deployed as a missile, while Western analysts also reported that the Unha space launch vehicle was in fact has never been used for military purposes.
North Korea is often nicknamed an "intelligence black hole" by Western intelligence circles, so Taepodong 2 is just one of countless sensational stories in US foreign policy towards this country.
Le Hung(Source: Military Watch)
